Importance

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Abstract

A surgical method and device are provided which enable to prepare a natural patella for accepting a patella implant, while preserving a predetermined thickness of the natural patella. The device comprises: (a) a bone shaping element such as a reamer or a miller, including: (i) a rotatable bone shaping member having a lower edge; (ii) a shaft member having a scale including at least one marker; and (b) a guiding device for guiding the bone shaping element, including: (i) a patella holder for holding the natural patella; (ii) a pointer positioned at a constant distant from the patella holder for pointing at the marker, such that the distance between the pointer and the patella holder equals the sum of: the distance between the marker and the lower edge of the bone shaping member; and the preserved thickness of the natural patella. The method comprises: (a) holding the natural patella by means of a patella holder; (b) shaping the natural patella by means of a bone shaping element, the bone shaping element having: a marker; and a lower edge; (c) monitoring the shaping by means of a pointer, the distance between the pointer and the patella holder being equal to the sum of: (i) the distance between the marker and the lower edge; and (ii) the preserved thickness of the natural patella, such that when the marker merges with the pointer, a conclusion is made that the preserved thickness of the natural patella equals the predetermined value.

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First Claim